What is Infant Jaundice and How is it Treated?
There are several different types of jaundice but the two most common are physiological jaundice and breastfeeding jaundice. Physiological jaundice affects most babies, is mild, and will usually disappear in 1 to 2 weeks. While a common misconception, breastfeeding jaundice is not caused by a mother’s breast milk. This type of jaundice occurs when a breastfeeding baby isn’t getting enough to drink because the milk flow has not come in completely yet or because of difficulties with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding jaundice may take up to 3 to 5 days to appear and typically takes longer to resolve. Remember, breast milk is the best when it comes to newborns and although jaundice may be a concern it is still recommended that mothers breastfeed if possible. While most jaundice will resolve on its own, sometimes an infant will need a helping hand. Luckily, the treatment is painless and typically very effective. Phototherapy is the treatment of choice for dealing with most cases of infant jaundi